And I'll Be Me

S I X

"Barry.... you didn't have to do that for me."

"Yes, I did. I wouldn't have been able to have a good time knowing you were here by yourself all day." He said, taking a bite of food.

I looked at him confused for a moment and started eating.

--

I finished my last bite, and stood.

"Wait, I'll take it." Barry said.

"I can do it. I have to go that way anyway, or did you think I was going to walk around in pajamas." I laughed.

"I happen to think it's hot." He winked.

"Barry you are such a flirt. I'm going to change." I rolled my eyes and walked back to my bedroom looking for an outfit.

Barry followed me, and started going through my closet. He was looking at all the dresses. He stopped a short black dress with spaghetti straps, and thin fabric.

"What about this?" He asked.

"Never would I wear that in public." I laughed.

"Why do you have it then?" He laughed.

"A friend from my hometown got it for me." I shrugged.

"Here, you have to wear this one." He handed me a sparkly red dress, with no straps and it stopped at about knee length.

I shrugged and took it from him, going to the bathroom to change. I added a little makeup. I walked into my room and grabbed a hand held purse, and matching shoes.

I walked into the living room, Barry was on the couch.

"Hoe does it look?" I asked and he looked up.

"Hmm... give it a few spins." He said and I twirled around. "Its perfect."

"Score!" I half yelled.

Barry just laughed. "Okay, you all ready to go?"

"Yeah." I nodded, and we walked towards the door. I slipped my phone into my purse.

To tell the truth, I was really nervous. I haven't really done anything but try to find my mom since she disappeared.

We started walking down the street, it was pretty empty. Usually there was busy people running by, late for work. But now, there was only a few people trying to find a open store to get their last-minute Christmas presents.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"I can't tell you that." He shrugged.

"Why not?"

"Because it would ruin the surprise!" Barry said, waving his arms around.

I huffed and kept walking.

"I can tell you this," he said raising a finger, "you will love it for sure. You may even kiss me." He winked.

I scoffed. "I would never."

"Ouch." He said laying a hand over his heart dramatically.

I was really tempted to punch him in the arm, but he would claim I was flirting. Which I was not.

"He hooked his arm through mine and started skipping like we were filming "The Wizard Of Oz" movie.

"Are we almost there?" I laughed.

"Almost." He said.

We turned the corner and I saw the bowling alley Barry, Caitlin, Cisco, and I went to when we became friends.

"No way, don't tell me we're going bowling." I said.

"Oh, yes we are." Barry said with a smug look, and then opened the door allowing me to walk in first.

The place was empty, there wasn't even workers. Probably because they were with their family's.

"Are we even allowed to be in here?" I said looking at Barry.

"No." He shrugged, "come on! Lets play. I will beat you this time." He said raising a finger to me.

"Don't threaten the bowling king." I warned, picking up a bowling ball, and walking towards him.

"Its not threatening when it's true." He smirked. I could hear a bunch of teenagers in my head going, "ohhhh, roasted!"

I smirked and threw the bowling ball, knocking all of then down but one.

"Missed one." He said to aggravate me.

We played for about another hour or two.

"Okay, we should go. We have more to do." Barry said grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the door.

" Where to next?" I asked.

"I can't tell you, remember? It'll-'

"Ruin the surprise.." I huffed.

"Right. You'll really like this next place." He said smirking wide.

"Is it better than the bowling alley?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Yeah. I started with the least exciting surprise. The stops only get better and better."

"Um.. how many places are we going to?" I asked.

"A lot, I planned for us to stay out all day." He winked.

We started walking again, while I tried to guess where else we would go. Barry had started acting strange around me, and I wanted to find out why.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. Just a few things." I said looking at the ground.

He stopped walking and I looked at him.

"Why'd you stop?" I asked.

"Because, you have to start trusting me more, and realize that I'm not stupid." He gave me.a serious look.

"I do trust you." I said grabbing his hand, "there isn't anyone I trust more than you, why else would I be out here right now?" I said.

"You haven't been acting like it, lately, you've been shut off and... cold. You won't trust me enough to talk to when you need someone. I want to be there for you right now, but you won't let me. Why?"

"Barry, I can't talk about this." I said.

"Why don't you trust me? Shaylea.. I want to talk about this." He said. I looked around and realized just how long we had been out already, it was starting to get dark. It was Orange all around us from the sunset.

"Barry, you're one of the only people I don't want to tell this too. I don't want to make things weird. I haven't talked to anyone." I stated. He then grabbed my arm and started walking, taking me with him.

"Well, if you don't trust me, then I don't know why I even bother trying to be friends with you. Friends trust each other." He said frustrated, and then stormed off.

Authors Note:
Well, Damn. I hope you all are enjoying the story.

Please tell me in the comments what you think may happen next, and comment why you thunk Barry is acting funny. Also, comment what you think Shaylea's big secret is.

~Cookie Crisp, out.